The Nuggets keep telling anyone who will listen that they want to emulate the Phoenix Suns.

Although, what they--and every other team should be doing--is trying to mimic Denver's opponent tonight: the Spurs.

In a way, the Nuggets are correct. Since Phoenix has never won an NBA title, I guess the Nuggets are just like the Suns. (Sorry, that was too easy.)

The Nuggets have the the desire to win it all. They just don't have the personnel or front office savvy to get it done.

I do believe that team owner "Silent" Stan Kroenke wants to hoist the Larry O' Brien Trophy even more than yet another Stanley Cup. However, I can't confirm that because as his nickname suggests, Stan doesn't like talking to any of us in the media.

We do know this much though: the man has went above and beyond the luxury tax to try to bring Denver an NBA Championship.

Last season, he opened up the vault to check off on the Allen Iverson trade. He has now listened to "The Answer" ask him for a multi-year contract extension--at the age of 32. Iverson continues to defy age and does not appear to have lost a step. He is the heart and soul of this team, especially because Carmelo Anthony refuses to be for whatever reason. However, let's be real here--the Nuggets attendance is up four percent with Iverson, but the team's win total, his real barometer of success, is at best, lukewarm, I think. Since his arrival the team is 49-40, not great by any stretch.

On the other hand, Marcus Camby is 33 and was supposedly the first player to go last off-season, despite winning Defensive Player Of The Year honors. Keeping him is what put the Nuggets over the cap, instituting their luxury tax payments.

To Kroenke, it was fine. It was all part of the plan--a plan to win. They had Carmelo, Camby, Iverson, a wildly overpaid Kenyon Martin, and a wildly overhyped and overpaid guy who thinks he's good enough to go by one name, Nene.

Nene? How about, No Way.

Even still, with a bad contract or two, he believed in this team.

However, until they believe in valuing every possession, like the Spurs, and playing defense--like the Spurs, the Nuggets are in the words of Dennis Green "who we thought they were"...just first round fodder.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets at 18-12, yesterday said they could give their season a whole new meaning if they defeat the Spurs tonight.

It could happen, I guess. The Nuggets have the talent.

The bottom line is this, though: In one game, sure, I can see the Nuggets playing with some emotion and a boisterous home court advantage helping them to a win tonight.

Though, in a best- of -five or best -of- seven series who do you like? Let's face it, even some of the Nuggets players themselves would pick the Spurs.

This is not the way Denver thought their season would play out.

Some players said the Nuggets would win 60 games this season. They are on pace to win 47, maybe 48 games.

For that possible output, let's look at the input. This season Anthony will make $13.04 million, Iverson will check in at $19.01 million, Camby at $11.25 million, Martin is at $13.25 million, and the one-named wonder is at $8.84 million. All of that for 48 wins, maybe?

About that 18-12 beginning, well let's just say that 60-victory optimism is about as prevalent now as the team's outside shooting touch.

Anthony on being 18-12 simply said we're "not 12-18".

Camby, who always brings thoughtful insight to the table, offfered this rather realistic viewpoint. He said, "I just want for us to play well enough, hopefully, to get the home-court advantage in the first round."

The Nuggets play 15 games in January. In addition to the defending NBA champions, this month they face the Suns, the Hornets, the Jazz, the Magic, the Lakers, and the Mavericks.

I am beginning to think 48 victories might be a little too high.

San Antonio meanwhile has won four NBA titles since 1999 and has won with class.

The Nuggets have J.R. Smith while the Spurs have Bruce Bowen. One is a nuisance on and off the court and the other is just a nuisance to Anthony, when he is defending him. I think we know which is which.

The Spurs produced a guy named Sam Presti. He is 30 years old and is now general manager of the Sonics. His main contribution in San Antonio, while serving as Assistant GM was convincing the team to draft some French player named Tony Parker. How did that work out? Well, just like everything else the Spurs have done since Tim Duncan came aboard in 199, it has been fruitful.

The Spurs have a great core and a bunch undervalued and unselfish role players combined with a great coach. The Nuggets are selfish, not unselfish. Their coach? Well, he wants to be like Phoenix, not like San Antonio. What exactly does that tell you about him?

-"Z"